John Sebelius

Topeka  Saying there is nothing funny about prison rape, a state senator on Friday called a board game created by John Sebelius - the son of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius - obscene, racist and unethical.

And state Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, requested an investigation into the marketing and sale of the prison-themed game, which is called "Don't Drop the Soap."

The game is on sale at Hobbs Inc., 700 Mass., and on John Sebelius' Web site, www.Gilliusinc.com.

Huelskamp also said he is concerned that John Sebelius may be marketing and possibly storing the game at Cedar Crest, the governor's residence.

He has requested the attorney general's office to investigate. He has also requested an opinion from the Kansas Ethics Commission, and a report from the Kansas Department of Corrections on the extent of prison rape in its facilities.

The governor was en route to the National Governor's Association meeting in Washington, D.C., and could not be reached for comment.

In previous news stories, the governor's spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran has said the governor and her husband, U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Sebelius, are proud of their son's creativity.

Corcoran also said John Sebelius sought legal advice to be sure he followed proper requirements in selling the game.

In an interview with the Lawrence Journal-World, John Sebelius, 23, said he made up the game as his senior class project at the Rhode Island School of Design.

More like this story on LJWorld.com

Comments

Poor taste maybe, but that doesn't mean its criminal or that you need to waste our money (tax $) on an investigation into where the game is stored. Huelskamp must not have enough to do. Get your priorities straight you smuck! We have a lot more serious issues in this state that need attention than where a board game is being stored.

Now the young Sebelius is using Kansas tax dollars to provide an office and warehouse for personal profit. What next, probably isn't paying internet sales tax either if sold through the internet.
Sebelius' making Kansas proud.

just poor taste, that's all...it's ok to make fun of crime and rape and such like??
ok, how about a holocaust game....ooh! that wouldn't be funny at all!!
our "gov" and her son are low, vulgar, disgusting, philistines.....
oh, i know, just wait long enough and everything evolves!

Dozer is right. We have a legislature determined to accomodate corporate interests, that can't work out revenue difficulties, that ignores the untaxes oil stripper well sector that gets off tax free, that is unable to deal with health issues, that has a substantial part that pretends global warming doesn't exist. So what is Huelskamp's response? Attack the stupid game put out by the governor's son and make unproven allegations as to its logistics.

Prison rape is a real problem, of course, but Kansas has one of the best Departments of Correction in the nation. The notion that this game has any effect on Kansas prison conditions is simply ludicrous.

Old lawyer's advice:
When you have the law on your side, pound the law.
When you have the facts on your side, pound the facts.
When you don't have the law or the facts on your side, pound the table.

As the game progresses, a theoretical story is "published" in the local newspaper, and contestants guess how much of a response that story will receive.

Extra points for the following:
-Amount of response
-Degree of anger in posts
-Number of people attacking each other regardless of the topic at hand
-How long the story is kept alive by mindless arguments that no longer deal with the core issue but only seek to discredit others

If these people can't find something better to do with their time as elected officials, then I hope someone is running against them in the next state Republican primary. I'm seriously going to consider voting Democrat if this is -really- the quality of work I can expect from my Republican representatives.

If prison rape is something that should be taken seriously, then Rep Huelskamp should get off his dimpled backside and do something about it.

One of the most horrifying thing about the Missouri's framing and attempted premeditated killing of Joe Amrine was the fact that the prison officials responsible used two mentally handicapped inmates as witnesses against him. These two men had been raped almost every day of their life in prison and when later interviewed were little more than twitchy, quavering shells.

Huelskamp doesn't care about people like that. He is just playing politics.

The legislator has plenty of other things to do. Just because he doesn't like the idea doesn't mean he has to "look into" anything.
C'Mon legislators - pass Jodi's law, look into the statistics related to that actual crime, and start protecting people in the state, instead of this....

Legislators displaying irresponsibility. Frankly I would rather take a hard look at campaign donations of the two legislators so as to know whether or not Sunflower Electric has been contributing to their campaigns. Then let's debate conflicts of interest.

So long as the parents live at Cedar Crest then that is the family home. It goes with the job.

I personally do not have a problem with the game. Heck the kid (23 years old) started a company and trying to make his way in the world. Good for him.

The only thing I would have done differently is have a different address. To me it is just bad taste to use the Governor's Mansion as the registered address for the business. The incorporation documents were probally written up before the game but use a different address.

I personally believe any federal, state or local building should not be listed as a registered address for a For Profit Company, Not for Profit.

Sen. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler this is old news, but of course it is an election year isn't it? This was debated and checked out for legality, including the internet sales tax crap, several weeks ago. I heard John's address was now in Lawrence, not the governor's mansion. Just another futile, limp wristed attempt to discredit Sebelius and the new AG that she appointed, and get a few more votes at home. Pathetic.

Wouldn't it be better if this cynical Republican legislator -- instead of trying to score political points against the Democratic governor by attacking her son -- addressed the REAL LIFE problem of prisons in Kansas? Just sayin'...

Kansas prison deaths

Since 1980, an average of 15 inmates have died in Kansas prisons every year, with the totals higher in later years as inmate populations have swelled. 4.1 percent of those deaths were ruled homicides.

How many times have you heard a right-winger say that a pervert will get his in prison? I've heard comments about his pervert friends need to get him soap-on-a-rope. Things change when the GOP can use it to go after Democrats.

Sebelius' making Kansas proud.
Gambling and gaming that's the Governor's idea of economic development. Typical immoral liberal, Heck she will probably make it all the way to the White House and the whole country can share in our wealth.

Yes Engwood, this country is falling apart because of Sebelius' and her immoral liberal cronies supporting gaming and gambling. Thank goodness no Republicans supporting gaming bills and always take the moral high road. wink wink in case you don't get it.

This is just my take and I don't know anything about the game. I see the parents allowing their son (a graduate) the freedom to create as he wishes. They did not endorse the game as their opinion, they are merely supportive of their son. I respect this, knowing that they new they'd receive a little flack. The real question: Why are politicians spending time on this. Give me a break.

Is the energy usage records for the Mansion available to the public? It would be interesting to see if our Gov has reduced her energy usage. I wonder if running a business out of the mansion has raised the watts? Or is that whats?